JOB TITLE: NEW COMMUNITIES COORDINATOR
Role Purpose / Description:
Contribute to the monitoring and coordination of South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC) social inclusion programmes that support new communities, through the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and other relevant migrant support programmes.
The workload will include the line management of the new communities’ programme staff, overseeing and managing the annual plan targets and programme key performance indicators to ensure annual programme targets are met, oversee the programme budgets, and participate in various committees and interagency meetings to ensure the annual plans and outcomes relating to new communities are achieved to a high quality.
Depending on need, the postholder may be required to carry out SICAP development work, contributing to the programme KPIs under Goals 1 and 2.
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Key Responsibility Areas
The role of the New Communities Coordinator will primarily involve the following:
In pursuance of the Company’s SICAP plans and in collaboration with the Social Inclusion Coordinator:
- Complete annual planning process for SICAP new communities’ actions with the team, including budgeting in association with the CFO, relevant finance/administration staff, and the CEO.
- Prepare SICAP tenders, strategic plans, or other such documents.
- Prepare mid-year and end-of-year SICAP reports and case studies.
- Monitor new communities’ programme delivery, including financial monitoring, SICAP IT system, and evaluation and research activity.
- Prepare reports for publication and dissemination of best SICAP new communities actions case studies.
- To monitor, review and update SICAP literature, forms, and templates to ensure consistency and compliance with SICAP regulations.
- Authorise SICAP new communities’ expenditure to a limit of €5,000 within programme rules and company procedures.
- Line manage the SICAP new communities’ team.
- Report on SICAP new communities’ activity to the SWMDC board and Mayo Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and/or other contracting bodies as required.
In pursuance of the Company’s Social Inclusion objectives:
- To co-ordinate and oversee the Mayo Intercultural Action (MIA) / WIN Mayo (AMIF) project, Mayo Resettlement Programme, Tusla Family Support Practitioners, Community Connection Project, and other associated new communities’ programmes (existing and new), including staff and reporting requirements.
- To support and encourage linkages to relevant programmes in the company such as Tús, Rural Social Scheme, Social Farming, WRDATF, and Community Employment.
- To contribute to the strategic integration and collaboration among SWMDC activities and programmes which have an integration dimension.
In pursuance of the Company’s Castlebar and Claremorris SICAP Plan (New Communities):
- To work with Local Community Groups and Individuals eligible under Goals 1 and 2 of SICAP in the company’s SICAP Annual Plans in the Castlebar and Claremorris Lot.
- To provide advice, assistance, and support for the development of initiatives to Local Community Groups and Individuals under SICAP Goals 1 and 2 in the Castlebar and Claremorris Lot.
- To manage new communities’ actions, projects, files, funding, payments, and information in accordance with the company’s, and the programmes’, requirements, and systems.
In pursuance of the strategic response to the needs of new communities in County Mayo:
- To work with other agencies and bodies with responsibility for services to new communities, and to develop and maintain partnerships with relevant statutory and voluntary organisations.
- Maximise funding opportunities and complete and submit strategic funding applications in line with the new communities’ objectives of the company.
- To represent the Company on relevant fora related to integration.
- Participate and comply with all relevant company actions and activities relating to continuous improvement, such as quality marks, company governance and any other continuous improvement processes implemented by the company.
Critical Competencies
Management/Teamwork
- Lead, motivate and manage staff to ensure that the team contributes fully to the Company’s goals.
- Adhere and contribute to the community development and social inclusion ethos and values of the company.
- Coach, mentor, and support staff to enable them to reach ambitious programme targets.
- Work effectively and co-operatively with others, establishes and maintains good working and interpersonal relationships.
- Create a climate of teamwork and collaboration.
Project Management
- Excellent report writing skills.
- Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate work programmes.
- Focus on and produce results, prioritises objectives and schedules work to make best use of time and resources.
- Takes a leading role in initiating actions, anticipates problems or difficulties, and thinks creatively to devise solutions.
Strategic Planning
- Actively contributes to the development and implementation of SWMDC’s strategies, plans, and objectives.
- Understands the national/local policy context of the work, understands likely implications on stakeholders and plans accordingly.
- Makes informed decisions or judgments based on logical processing of information, sound thinking, and problem solving.
- Identifies key information sources, gathers, and analyses information and presents this in a coherent manner.
Communication/Influencing
- Demonstrates effective communication style appropriate to audience and situation from an array of skills in presentations, written and verbal communications.
- Exhibits strong listening skills.
- Creates a positive impact and conveys confidence and credibility to others.
- Listens, empathises, and responds effectively to client and staff needs.
Community Engagement
- Ability to directly provide outreach work to targeted individuals and new communities.
- Ability to engage hard-to-reach new communities.
Other Competencies
Technical & Professional Expertise
- Possess excellent ICT skills with an ability to learn new systems and software packages.
- Some experience of social media and public relations is advantageous.
Desired Experience
- A minimum of three years paid experience of coordination/management within a publicly funded environment.
- Experience of managing staff.
- In depth knowledge and experience of safeguarding principles and working with vulnerable adults and young people.
- Experience of project management, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
- Financial management experience in a publicly funded environment.
- Experience of ensuring that projects/programmes meet the terms of the funding contracts.
- Experience of engaging, developing, and implementing initiatives with hard-to-reach communities, such as new communities.
- Experience of working directly with SICAP target group individuals and communities.
- Experience of working in a multi-stakeholder environment, managing relationships and expectations leading to positive outcomes.
- Experience of writing professional reports and a track record of writing successful grant applications and tenders.
- A demonstrable commitment to community and local development, equality, social justice, and social change is essential.
Desired Qualifications
- Relevant level 8 qualification, e.g., Sociology, Rural Development, Social Studies, or other relevant qualification for the post.
- A postgraduate degree in a relevant field is desirable.
- Evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is advantageous.
Other Relevant Information
- A full driving licence and access to your own car is essential.
- Knowledge and experience of SICAP and the Integrated Reporting Information System (IRIS) and/or other excel based reporting systems is advantageous.
- The post-holder is expected to be flexible in the performance of duties. The duties listed above are not exhaustive and may be reviewed by the CEO at any time.
Terms & Conditions of Employment
- Salary – The salary will be €51,000 per annum.
- Duration of Contract – The contract is based on a one-year fixed term contract, with a view to extending the post subject to satisfactory performance and the continued funding of SWMDC’s Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and other new communities’ programmes.
- Probation – A probationary period of six months will apply.
- Pension -Following successful completion of probation, the post holder will have the opportunity to opt into the SWMDC company pension scheme.
- Working Hours – 9am – 5pm (35 hours per week). Due to the nature of the role, some out- of-hours work is required. A company Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) policy applies.
- Annual Leave – Annual leave is 25 days per annum for new staff, increasing by one day per two years served, to a maximum of 30 days per annum.
- Travel & Subsistence – Travel and subsistence will be paid at public sector rates.
- Location of the position – I.P.I. Centre, Breaffy Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo, F23 V125, with the possibility of remote working to be agreed in line with SWMDC’s Work Life Balance policy.
- Garda Vetting – The successful applicant will be required to be Garda vetted.
Selection Process
Selection will involve short listing of applicants for interview based on the criteria for the position as outlined in this job description and person specification.
How to apply
Please submit your Curriculum Vitae and cover letter by email to jobs@southmayo.com quoting New Communities Coordinator Application_YOURNAME in the subject line.
Please save your CV as YOURNAME_CV and your cover letter as YOURNAME_CoverLetter.
Please make sure that you check your spam and/or junk folders throughout this recruitment campaign, as SWMDC does not take any responsibility for missed communications.
The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 21st February 2025. Late applications are not accepted.
